Jul 20, 2011 kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books. Persia in the bible amazing bible timeline with world. I like history books, and realized i had never read one specific to persiairan. This is an nice overview of the history of iran, from the time of cyrus the great to about 2009. The names iran and persia are often used interchangeably to mean the same country. Discover librarianselected research resources on iranian history from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines, newspapers and more. The high civilization of ancient persia continues today with direct, unbroken ties to its past through the iranian culture. Epic poetry, absurdist fiction, and modern memoirs. A great list of books on iran to help you understand the iranian culture, society and history of persian before your upcoming trip to iran. Brief overview of the history of iran throughout much of early history, the land known today as iran was known as the persian empire.
Michael axworthy teaches at the institute of arab and islamic studies at the university of exeter uk. This authoritative and comprehensive history of iran, written by homa katouzian, an acclaimed expert, covers the entire history of the area from the ancient persian empire to todays iranian state. The countrys name was changed from persia to iran in 1935. From the tenth to the fourteenth centuries a number of persian historians wrote in arabic, the common academic language of the time, including the persian historian abu jafar muhammad ibn jarir altabaris 839923, author of tarikh alrusul wa almuluk, more commonly known as tarikh altabari history of tabari. The history of iran, which was commonly known until the mid20th century as persia in the western world, is intertwined with the history of a larger region, also to an extent known as greater iran, comprising the area from anatolia, the bosphorus, and egypt in the west to the borders of ancient india and the syr darya in the east, and from the. Empire, authority, and autonomy in achaemenid anatolia, by elspeth r. History and literature sociology novel psychology women glossary publications policy philosophy religion mp3 audio books free books for iran pdf nonpersianbooks miscellaneous information.
List of books and articles about iranian history online. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. It seems like you might be looking for books andor documentaries. Only books relating to persian culture are considered by the editors. A history of persia description percy molesworth sykes 18671945 was a british soldier, diplomat, and author who wrote several important books about persia presentday iran and neighboring countries, including ten thousand miles in persia 1902, the glory of the shia world 1910, and this twovolume a history of persia 1915.
In a history of iran, acclaimed historian michael axworthy chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the achaemenid empire of sixth century bc to the revolution of 1979 to today, including a close look at iran s ongoing attempts to become a nuclear power. It became a theocratic islamic republic in the middle east in western asia. The literary form of new persian is known as farsi in iran, where it. They cost a lot though in both ebook and hardcopy formats. Like most other westerners interested in classical hisory, i had first learned of the persians in terms of the greeks. Search the history of over 424 billion web pages on the internet. A captivating guide to the persian empire and history of iran, starting from the achaemenid empire, through the parthian, sasanian and safavid empire to the afsharid and qajar dynasty. The best books on iran recommended by pooneh ghoddoosi. Here is the video showing the history of iran fromer persia starting from the medes until todays islamic republic, passing through the achaemenid, parthian, sassanid empires and more. Here is the best place for presenting rare, old, new and precious titles to buy them through the earth biggest persian online bookstore. The subtitle empire of the mind denotes some emphasis on cultural aspects of iran, as well as the history of the country and the various dynasties who have ruled the area that was once referred to as persia. We have been selling persian and english books about iran since 1979. Kamin mohammadis top 10 iranian books books the guardian. What are the best books to read about the modern history.
A very readable history book is empire of the mind. Writing from an iranian rather than a european perspective, katouzian integrates the significant cultural and literary history of iran with its. Sahansahiye iran, refers to a series of imperial dynasties that were centred in iran from the 6th century bc achaemenid empire era to the 20th century ad in the pahlavi dynasty era. It covers a wide array of subjects and also includes online documentaries. The history of iran presented in her book is not exactly objective but no matter.
Iran history, middle eastern history, books barnes. List of books and articles about iranian history online research. History iran regional and national history world persia. The blood of flowers by anita amirrezvani, the persian expedition by xenophon, persian fire. Although modernday iran corresponds to the heartland of ancient persia, the islamic republic of iran is a multicultural entity. Jan 08, 2020 ali m ansari is a professor of history at the university of st andrews specialising in the history of iran and author of several books including iran. The visual storytelling gives the books an immediate appeal and places them very much in the mainstream, accessible to many who would not normally pick up a book on iran.
Even with news breaking daily in iran, the first book i send myself. Like the epic poetry of greece and scandinavia, the text explores creation myths, tragic love stories, and great wars. Learn about the history of iran, formerly known as persia. A captivating guide to the barbarians of iranian origins and how these ancient tribes fought against the roman empire, goths, huns, and persians. Tell me about your next book, the classic sketches of persia by sir john malcolm. The author of the sword of persia and revolutionary iran, axworthy publishes widely in the field of iranian history. I ranib ook is the first and best iranian online bookshop, supply, and great source of persian farsi books.
This book brings together his vast and scholarly knowledge of 2500 years of iranian history. The history of iran from ancient persia to the ayatollahs comprehensively and descriptively covers this history, progressing through a timeline dating back to antiquity and examining all of the different religious, political, foreign, and military issues that affect iran and are affected by iran today. The persian empire is the name given to a series of dynasties centered in modernday iran that spanned several centuriesfrom the sixth century b. A captivating guide to the persian empire and history of iran, starting from the achaemenid empire, through the parthian, sasanian and. Army in the middle east during the war and served for nearly seven years as chief of the middle east section, office of the chief of military history. The way the author weaves descriptions of iranian history, tradition, and cuisine into the story is sure to delight those interested in persian. The best books on iranian history 1 khomeinism by ervand abrahamian.
A history of iran, one of several recent books that aim to draw back the gloomy curtain of. Home browse history middle eastern history iran iranian history. Due to his status as the last shah of iran, he is often known. From them also, thrust up in the wake of the volcanic activity of late pliocene times, came diorite and obsidian, both highly prized in antiquity. You may search or browse a small part of inventory of persian and english language books about iran. Another great work of iranian intellectual history is ali rahnemas an. What are the best books to read about the modern history of iran. It has largely been dismissed now because people think it is very out of date, although i still think it bears reading.
Ali m ansari is a professor of history at the university of st andrews specialising in the history of iran and author of several books including iran. Nov 12, 2019 the high civilization of ancient persia continues today with direct, unbroken ties to its past through the iranian culture. More than 30 years in the writing, this epic poem contains 60,000 verses and tells the mythical and actual history of iran, from the creation. In a history of iran, acclaimed historian michael axworthy chronicles the rich history of this complex nation from the achaemenid empire of sixth century bc to the revolution of 1979 to today, including a close look at irans ongoing attempts to become a nuclear power. It is an islamic republic, but one in which only 1. List of books and articles about ancient persia online. New books archaeology, anthropology architecture art biographies, memoirs business, economy children crafts, rugs culture, society diaspora ethnicities, minorities film, video food foreign relations iran us relations geography, nature history ancient history modern history pahlavi era history qajar era humor, satire. Iran came to be known as persia in the west thanks to classical greek authors during whose time persia was the dominant kingdom in iran. Michael axworthy, a former british foreign service officer and a lecturer in arabic and islamic studies at the university of exeter. A concise history of the achaemenid empire, 550330 bce, by matt waters. The definitive history of iran, from the ancient persian empires to todayiran is a land of contradictions. The article iran contains a description of the geography and economy of the modern country and a short account of its history since the arab invasion of the 7th cent. Aug 27, 2011 the visual storytelling gives the books an immediate appeal and places them very much in the mainstream, accessible to many who would not normally pick up a book on iran.
History a thousand years of the persian book exhibitions. I am finding it so incredibly difficult finding a good book on persia, ive got 2 books, but they arent nearly as in depth as id like them to be and they were made back in the 1960s. A history of iran, one of several recent books that aim to draw back the gloomy curtain of recent events, aims to increase the general readers awareness of the richness and uniqueness of the iranian heritage. By ervand abrahamian 2 for a more in depth and scholarly works, abrahamians iran between two revolutions is a classic. What you see on our site is only a fraction of the books we have available. Mage publishes englishlanguage books about persian culture, cookbooks, history, biography and autobiography, music and poetry, translations of literature, books on architectural studies, and childrens tales. These works were often written in prose as well as in verse. History of iran persia including medes and persians, cyrus the great, darius, the persian empire, the persian army, persian couriers, the architecture of empire, persian carpets.
In the following chapters, axworthy discusses the succeeding persian. Irans religious culture encompasses the most censorious and dogmatic shia muslim clerics in the world, yet its poetry insistently dwells on the joys of life. The best books on iran five books expert recommendations. I second quora users opinion and highly recommend the cambridge history of iran series. Did you know we have a extensive reading list in our wiki. The first great dynasty in iran was the achaemenid which ruled from 550 to 330 bc. The definitive history of iran, from the ancient persian empires to today.
This one covered the known history, not dwelling too much on any given era. He always writes very interesting things about the social and political history of the country and this book is actually a collection of essays that he has written on the islamic revolution and its aftermath. This article is concerned with the history of the ancient persian empire, in which presentday iran has its roots. A very short introduction oxford university press, 2014.
From the tenth century to the late nineteenth century, historical writing became one of the most revered and important literary traditions in the persian language. Your first book is khomeinism by ervand abrahamian yes, abrahamian is one of the leading historians of modern iran. The persian empire is the name used to refer to many historical dynasties that have ruled the country of persia now known as iran. It was created by cyrus the great in the 6th century bc and was destroyed by alexander the great in the 4th century bc. Once there, my iranian friend and i traveled from the shomal the northern border of iran on the caspian sea nearly to the southern border, stopping at many of the sites id learned about while reading. Former british foreignservice officer and iranian historian. Shahnameh tells the legendary stories of preislamic iran. Finally, the rivers of iran, racing swiftly through. The politics of nationalism in modern iran cambridge university press, 2012. Feb 10, 2018 here is the video showing the history of iran fromer persia starting from the medes until todays islamic republic, passing through the achaemenid, parthian, sassanid empires and more. Across iran and central asia to find the worlds first. Sweeping, sensitive and evenhanded overview of the ancient nation, from the days of the prophet zoroaster to those of the islamic republic. Olmsteads magisterial history of the persian empire is a corrective supplement to this perspective and one of the best, most wellwritten histories of the ancient world i have ever read.
The best books on iranian history, as recommended by historian ali ansari. Discover facts about its culture, geography, economy, and more. I read this book in 1979 just before traveling to iran. The best books on iranian history five books expert.
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